Transition from lamellar to nanostructure mesophases in azobenzene-based hockey-stick polycatenars

Tuning from 1D to 3D mesophases by alkyl chain engineering. Multichain π-conjugated hockey-stick molecules form lamellar SmA and meso -structure Ia 3̄ d with continuous networks. The effect of the position of the central bent-core unit on helical self-assembly is discussed.